Edwin van der Sar vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
Put Edwin van der Sar and Park Ji-sung side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Career output puts Edwin van der Sar at 0 goals in 820 games, with Park Ji-sung at 60 in 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Edwin van der Sar is credited with 0 and Park Ji-sung with 60. Edwin van der Sar departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2008); Park Ji-sung with 5, including 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). As a goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar bent the role to a commanding template; as a midfielder, Park Ji-sung redefined it with orchestrating authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Edwin van der Sar's landmark level arrived around 2008 with a career spanning Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United; Park Ji-sung's came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
193 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Edwin van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of Eredivisie club Ajax. Van der Sar began his senior playing career with Ajax in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's golden generation and was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
“A tall, composed goalkeeper who made difficult saves look quiet and simple.”
The first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Edwin van der Sar takes it by a narrow margin.
Edwin van der Sar edges it (a narrow margin)
